Expert Advice

Getting Started

Get Hired in 2011
07/29/11
Like it or not, the “social” in social media is misleading: The phenomenon has now fully permeated our professional lives. And that means if you’re one of the millions of Americans looking for a new job, it’s time to consider how to use that...
The Art of the Written Word
07/22/11
Lately, I have been inundated with emails from event planning hopefuls who ironically all begin their inquiries with, “Hi there! I am interested in a career in event planning.” Great, I think, but “Hi there?” Did you take the time to find out whom to...

Running Your Business

3 Tips for Last-Minute Speaker Cancellations
07/18/11
Q: What can we do when the caterer is late, the room isn’t set up and the speaker doesn’t show? A: According to Gwen Henson, executive director for the National Speaker Association – Arizona (NSA-AZ), it’s all about utilizing your resources and keeping...
Get More From Your 24-Hour Hold Space to Save Money and Wow Attendees
06/28/11
Event planners and producers are experiencing a new challenge. While more economic spending is reviving our industry, budgets are still strained. The ROI of every event has to be higher than ever before for businesses and their attendees to justify the...
Can a Meeting Be Successful with SpongeBob SquarePants as the Host?
06/27/11
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a distinct separation between work-life and family-life. When I was a kid, Dad was home in time for dinner and everyone I knew took at least one family vacation, generally a whole week each summer....
Bottom Up Business Building
06/9/11
As I celebrate 25 years in the event world (and my 50th birthday), I am happy to share my most successful tactic. My definition of bottom up business building is creating ongoing and profitable business that fits your unique niche, be it talent, venue or...

Suppliers Speak

What to Know Ahead of Time When Hiring a Photographer
07/18/11
1. A general idea of what the assignment or event is, and how they want me to photograph it. 2. The usual things like the time and place are very important, but so is the dress code for the event. For example, will it be formal, business casual, or...
Five Tips to Help You Work Better with Your Lighting Supplier
07/18/11
In my work as owner and lighting designer for Creative BackStage in Tempe, I often collaborate with planners as they prepare for an event. The following five tips will help both a planner’s job and mine go more smoothly. 1. Give me all of the information...

Open Forum

Surviving Airport Purgatory
07/13/11
After undergoing my own 36-hour airport delay nightmare last summer, I understand the sheer frustration of being bumped time... after time... after time. I know what it’s like to curl up on a concrete floor or contort into an uncomfortable chair. Pulling...
Cut Through the Clutter with Reliable Hotel Ratings
07/5/11
When it comes to hotel ratings, what do diamonds and stars really mean? Nearly every travel website seems to offer an opinion, and it can be hard to know which rating system to trust. The Mobil Travel Guide and American Automobile Association (AAA)...